About
Riccardo Matlakas is best known for his multi-talented capacity in different art forms including performance, dance, painting, and sculpture.
He obtained a degree in Sculpture at the University of Fine Arts in Naples and an MA in Social Sculpture at Oxford Brookes University. The artist also studied at Goldsmiths Univesrity and UAL.
Riccardo values the context he works in as the main inspiration for his work, finding a common ground with each culture he connects with. He creates cathartic actions and performances at the forefront of current political, environmental, and spiritual concerns by digging for the essence of humanity beyond race and custom. The artist often collects relics from his performances which later become objects of memory and contemplation. Amongst many residencies and exhibitions abroad Riccardo Matlakas has performed and shown his work at the Moscow Biennale of young artists in 2010, Gwangju Biennale in 2014, and Prague Quadrennial and had his work collected by the Museum of Modern Art in Odesa, Ukraine and the Museum of Palestine in Cape town.
Riccardo Matlakas is a multi-disciplinary artist working in painting/street art, performance, sculpture and installation. Matlakas' performances are often the result of the analysis of culture and the context he works in. As both a visual artist and a dancer, Riccardo creates physically engaging works often concerning human spiritual development and growth. The artist questions human behavior and identity through his actions, happenings, paintings, and performances. The artist's journey in the arts is to find a common point among every race and culture, where we unify as one race and gender, deconstructing political identity and bringing all humans to the essence.
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EDUCATION
2012/2014 MA in Social Sculpture and Contemporary Art at Oxford Brooks University, Uk.
2008: Goldsmiths University PGCE in Art and Design, London, Uk.
2007: UAL (University of the Arts of London) Diploma in Facilitating Learning in Arts for the communities. London, Uk.
2006 Degree in Sculpture and Design at University of FineArt, Naples, Italy
LECTURES
Busan Museum of Art, Busan, South Korea, 2018.
ISI, Seni University, Jogja, Yogjakarta, Indonesia, 2018.
Kaywon University, Seoul, 2016.
Chonnam University’s Lecture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. *Theatre Akademie, Helsinky (FN) 2010.
NCCA and Pro-arte, St. Petersburg (RU), 2013.
GRANTED RESIDENCIES
17/08/2019 to 30/10/2019: Lighthouse in the Woods Museum, Wanju, South Korea.
02/2019 to 04/2019: Odesa Museum of Art, in Ukraine, sponsored by British Council, England.
12/2018: Gapa-Do residency program, Research period in Gapa Island in South Korea. funded by Korean Arts Council and Non-Gothic Body.
10/2018: Darat Al Funun, Amman, Jordan. “Truth is black, write over it with a mirage’s light. Residency research and Final Exhibition.
09-10/2018: British Council/Liverpool Biennale, Swap Residency, Municipal Gallery and Yermilov Centre in Kharkiv.
08/2018: Caravan Next/Theatre Brama, Residency creating a public mural and performance intervention for “Human Mosaic”, Goleniow, Poland.
05/2018: The freezer Residency, Snæfellsjökull, Iceland.
02/2018: Pyeongchang Culture Olympics, DMZ art Festa, performance event in several cities of South and North Korean Border, Demilitarised zone.
07/2017 to 08/2017: Art and cultural study laboratory ACSL, Yerevan Armenia, curated by Susanna Gyulamiryan, Funded by ECF
08/2016 to 17/09/2016: NU-E Space, Wanju, South Korea (Residency involved the creation of a large mural and a final performance).
01/2015: Tamarin ArtsCentre, Tamarin, Mauritius (Residency involved the creation of a performance about the liberation of slavery).
09/2015/10/2015: Institute of Palestine in South Africa and the Museum of Palestine in Cape Town.
06/2015: Museum of Palestine in Cape Town research in Palestine and Exhibition in Cape Town.
12/2014: Residency in Yangrim-Dong, Horang-kasinamu.
07/2014: Residency in Gwangju Biennale, Korea, Sweet Dew, curated by Gwangju Biennale.
26/03/2013: Residency tour in several cities in Myanmar.
26/03/2012 to 15/04/2013: NCCA, National Centre of Contemporary art, Kronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation).
29/04/2012 to 06/05/2012 Artist in residence at the Massy Vilmorin.
04/2012: London: “Lieblings”, Chelsea Theatre, mentored by Stacy Makishi.
06/2011: Helsinki (Finland), “LapSody” held at the “Theatre Academy in Helsinki”. Presentation/lecture and performance during 1 week residency.
06/2009: Prato (Italy). “VDA”, vestiti d’ arte: 2 weeks Artist residency in Vercelli, Italy. (Residency involved the creation of a wearable sculpture).
08/2007: . Belgrade (Serbia), “Real Presence”, Curators: Dobrila Denegri e Bijliana Tòmic. (Residency involved the creation of a large scale Painting).
PERFORMANCE SHOWS
09/2021: Pompei Art Fest, Pompei Italy
09/2021: SerformanceP. 5th Exhibition of Performances in San Paulo, BR
07/2021: Linfa Art Festival, Monticello Amiata, Tuscany, IT.
07/2021: Borgo Universo 2021, Aielli, Abruzzo, Italy
09/2020: Territori Performance festival, Ibiza, Spain
06/2019: Tramshed Theatre, London, performance streamed live (Covid-19)
10/2019: JIEAF 2019 in collaboration with Unesco, performance in Jeju Island, South Korea.
06/2019: Lee Kang Ha Museum in Gwangju “Face To Face” Performance Symposium, ACC, Asian Cultural Centre, Gwangju, South Korea.
05/2019: TAC Festival, Valladolid, Spain
10/2018: Darat Al Funun, Amman, Jordan.
05/2018: Teatro Bellini, Naples, Italy, Scratching Borders.
02/2018: Pyeongchang Culture Olympics, DMZ art Festa, performance event in several cities of South and North Korean Border, Demilitarised zone.
12/2017: Mexican Border performance.
12/2017: Nexus, Sadler Gallery Miami.
12/2017: Miami Art Week, Satellite Show, Miami Beach, USA.
12/2017: Miami Art Week, Nexus Project, Gallery, Miami, USA.
11/2017: Queer Migrants Take Over, Toynbee Studios, London. Uk.
08/2017: Performance (Beyond Words) in Rafleian House, Tourist Library, Yazd, Iran.
08/2017: Performance (Saffron Tears) in Art Centre, Tehran, Iran.
07/2017: Performance (The last Soldier) in Karabach border with Azerbaijan, Armenia. During Residency at Art and cultural study laboratory ACSL.
07/2017: Performance (Melting Borders) in Yerevan city, Armenia. During Residency at Art and cultural study laboratory ACSL.
07/2017 to 09/2017: Participating with a series of paintings at PAN (Palazzo delle Arti di Napoli), curated by Daniela Wollmann.
06/2017: Performance (Insights) at Fringe Arts Bath Festival, Bath, Uk. Curated by Fay Stevens and Vicky Fetcher.
06/2017: Performance (Sweet Thorn) Chartres, France. for Orode’ Solo Exhibition: “Mon Coeur Mis a nou”, curated by Fabio Novembre.
05/2017: Performance (Sweet Sabotage) durational performance 3 hours. at Platform Southwark, Abeerance, Young Vic theatre, London.
05/2017: Performance (Confines) for Freshly Scratched, Battersea Arts centre, London, Uk.
12/2016: Performance (Sweet Thorn) for “The Change”, curated by Antonio Paloma.
07/2016: Performance (I am not Tino Seghal”/ Talking Field) at Nahmad Projects gallery, curated by Francesco Bonami London, UK.
02/2016: Performance (Kas Baro), Tamarin Arts Centre, Mauritius, in occasion of the abolition of slavery day.
12/2015: Performance (Sweet Thorn) VAC Performance Space, Seoul, South Korea.
11/2015: Performance (My Body Nobody) for Jieaf, “Who am I?” Performance Festival at Jeju Island, Korea, curated by Kim Baekki.
10/2015: Performance Express your Solidarity for Palestine curated by Anis Daraghma, and IPSA (Institute of Palestine in South Africa).
06/2015: Performance (Now) Plateau Gallery, Berlin, Germany for “Time is Love”, curated by Kisito Assigni.
04/2015: Performance (My Body Nobody) for “It’s Liquid”, Palazzo Redetzky. curated by Luca Curci, Milano.
09/2014: Performance (Atelier n.4) Durational Performance at Oxford Brookes University (5 Days), curated by Shelley Sacks and Ray Lee.
08/2014: Performance (Heimat Obstruction) in the Hutong area in Beijing, commissioned by Beijing city Council.
08/2014: Performance (Sweet Dew) in occasion of Gwangju Biennale, South Korea.
07/2014: Solo Butoh performance and a collaboration with he Japanese Butoh Group: Physical Poets, at Jeju Jazz Festival, curated by Baek-ki Kim.
06/2014: Performance (Idem Quod) for Art In the Crypt in conjunction with the 20th Camberwell arts Festival, Camberwell London.
06/2014: Performance/video (Heimat Obstruction) for Video Performance Festival, Cyprus Performance Festival, curated by Christina Georgiou. Cyprus.
06/2014: Performance (Nostalgia) for a Collective performance evening curated by Donald Hutera at St’ Luke’s Hall, Chelsea, London, Uk.
01/2014 to 01/2014: Performance/Installation (Have you Seen the sky?) Seoul’s Subway, South Korea in collaboration with Seoul’s Subway.
04/2013: Performance (Seagull Chase) Inle Lake, Burma.
10/2012: Performance (I shape the Time), Paris (Fr.), Cinq à Sept festival of experimental Performance Art.
09/2012: Performance (Heimat Obstruction) In Paris Metro, in Collaboration with Paris Metro.
09/2012: Performance (Insights), Doomed gallery, London, Uk.
06-07/2012: Performance (Diagramer) Berlin, Germany. Young Artists Incubator (Yai), Factory-Art Gallery.
05/2012: Performance (Time Shapes You), Strasbourg, France, Performance Festival mix-média 2nd edition - Masse Critique.
02/2012: Performance (Deconstructed Eidos), Paris France,, “Dimanche Rouge”,, curated by Opie Boero Imwimkelried.
01/2012: Performance (Analog Palingenesis) Paris, France for “Dimanche Rouge”, curated by Opie Boero Imwimkelried.
12/2011: Performance (Analog Palingenesis) “Studio Iroko” in Milan, Italy.
09/2011: Performance (Decinstructed Eidos) London, Uk for “The Elephant and the Nun”, “Cuming Museum”.
08/2011: Performance (Now), Arcevia, Italy, “Misa Theatre”, in collaboration with Pasquale Mirra,
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
May/june/july 2022: Estudi Our Costa - 0 Nation, Ibiza, Spain
04/2022: Depoo Gallery - Melting Borders, Sofia, Bulgaria
17/08/2019 to 30/10/2019: Lighthouse in the Woods Museum, Soyang, Wanju, South Korea.
22/01/2018: Solo Exhibition of Murals made on the Entire Floor of Sunflower Hostel In Berlin.
18/06/2016 to 18/07/2016: Castel Dell’ Ovo “East and West Crossroads”, Naples, Italy.
12/2014 to 01/2016: La Fresco restaurant Gwangju (South Korea), “Peace and Ferocity”.
08/2012: Cerreto (Italy), (painting, performance and video), MAMEC, Museo d’arte Moderna e Contemporanea, solo exhibition with live performance.
11/2009: Theatre G. D’Annunzio, Latina (Italy), “Post-Stencilism” (painting, performance and video).
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
09/2021: Pompei Street art Fest, Pompei, IT
07/2021: Linfa Art Festival, Monticello Amiata, Tuscany, IT.
07/2021: Borgo Universo 2021, Aielli, Abruzzo, Italy
10/2020: Interactive Installation for Gangwon Kids Triennale, South Korea
06/2020: “60 Days of Lockdown” , A4 Museum, Chengdu, China.
09/2019 to 11/2019: PAN, Palazzo delle Arti, Naples, Italy.
08/2019: Borgo Universo, Aielli, Abruzzo, Italy.
02/2019 to 04/2019: Odessa Museum of Art, Fragile States, in Ukraine, sponsored by British Council, England.
10/2018 to 31/01/2019: Darat Al Funun, Amman, Jordan. “Truth is black, write over it with a mirage’s light.
04/2018: Sofia Underground 2018 what now / now what. Exhibition of video documentation of Performance Art.
08/2017; Art Expo, Pan (Palazzo delle Arti Napoli, Italy. Curated by Daniela Wollman.
06/2017: Clerkenwell Design Week, London. Mosaic Installation in occasion of the design event.
12/2016: Exhibition “The Change”, collective exhibition at PAN (Palazzo delle arti Napoli), curated by Palomart, Naples, Italy.
04/2016: Time is Love 11 (video), video screening curated by Kisito Assigni in Hong Kong.
03/2016: Time is Love 10 (video), video screening curated by Kisito Assigni at Anri Sala at Centre Pompidou, Paris.
02/2016: Palazzo delle Arti di Napoli, Naples, Italy. In Cammino, PAN In occasion of the exhibition by Edoardo Bennato in collaboration with Unicef.
02/2016: Time is Love (video, video screening curated by Kisito Assigni Plateau Gallery, Berlin, Germany.
11/2015: Jieaf, Who am I? Jeju Island, Korea, curated by Kim Baekki.
10/2015: Collective Exhibition, “Express your Solidarity for Palestine” curated by Anis Daraghma, Cape Town, South Africa, for IPSA.
10/2015: Portobello Film festival in London presentation of my video “Transitory State”.
01/2013:“Extradite me, I am British”, London (Uk).
02/2012: Moretti & Moretti gallery, Paris, France. “Life Bloody Live”, curated by Opie Boero Imwimkelried.
01/2012: London (Uk), Showcases Cities, my painting works included in the collective exhibition.
12/2011: “Studio Iroko” in Milan, Italy, curated By Barbara Vincenzi.
08/2011: Artcevia, (Italy), Misa Theatre Art Visual art Collective, Arcevia (An, Italy).
11/2010: Naples (Italy). Maschio Angioino Castle, Naples, Italy. “L’ arte della fuga”.
11/2009: Borgogna Museum, Vercelli (Italy).10/2009: Vercelli (Italy). Vestiti D’arte 2009.
11/2009: Leone Museum, Vercelli (Italy). Vestiti D’arte 2009.
10/2009: London, UK. “Frieze art fair” ,Project: “Impossible Exchange” Paintings shown in by Brina Thurston’ s Frieze’s project.
PUBLICATIONS
2021, “Vite In Quarantena” (Quarantined Lives),
book written by Riccardo Matlakas published by Edizioni Kimerik, soon in english)
Emergency Index 2018, New York, USA
Performance Almanac 2017, New York, USA
Emergency Index 2017, New York, USA
Art Reveal Magazine 2017, New York, USA
Performance Almanac 2016, New York, USA
Performance Almanac 2015, New York, USA
Emergency Index 2012, New York, USA
Emergency Index 2011, New York, USA
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Museum of Modern Art Odesa, Ukraine
Museum of Palestine in Cape Town, South Africa
Museum of Yamnimdong, South Korea
Theme Museum, Busan, South Korea.
